So I took a two week break from brunching (not a voluntary decision mind you) and let me tell you...it was horrible. I missed my weekly dose of eggs and coffee terribly, and vowed to never sway from brunching ever again. Four Ate Five was a delightful discovery upon M and I's lucky fortune in securing a parking spot on Crown Street. Seriously, that never happens. Despite the 20 minute (painfullly hungry) wait, we left feeling very satisfied.

I love cafes that offer specials in addition to their regular menu - it means that there is always a surprise, usually a good one.

I was off to a good start with my much needed dose of caffeine - the Skim Cappucino ($3.80) was beautifully frothy but slightly too bitter. M ordered a Strawberry Milkshake ($7) because he had "seen someone drinking it" however 5 minutes later we realised that there was no such order on the menu. Now we were really intrigued as to why they didn't stop our order and anticipated what was to come.The result? A sublime concoction of Strawberry Smoothie/Milkshake. Whilst the texture of the drink was more like a smoothie, the creamy sweet flavours definitely reflected that of a strawberry milkshake. So genius, so good! As the weather was quite warm Saturday, this was quite possibly the best idea ever.

I ordered from the special menu because who can resist a good old Eggs Benedict ($16)? With Smoked Ham, the glorious Poached Eggs sat neatly on top of a Toasted Croissant drizzled with the richest and creamiest Hollandaise Sauce I've ever had. There probably was a bit too much sauce for my liking but ultimately it was a delicious feast. Surprisingly the croissant added a nice crunch and fluffy texture to each bite.

Look at that beauty! As I like to say, one should never underestimate the power of an intensely gooey egg. One gentle poke and voila...eggporn!

M's order of Pancetta, Spinach & Leek Baked Eggs with Mushrooms, Parmesan and Sourdough ($17) was definitely the winner for the day. First of all, the proportion size was beyond generous and the sourdough bread was top notch in all its hot chewiness. The eggs were baked to perfection and all the additions inside (especially the mushrooms) mixed to provide tasty flavours. I must admit, every two bites or so of my own dish I would steal another bite from these baked eggs. So good!

There are also extra pastries and cakes available for order, for those who need an extra kick of sugar. Who doesn't on a Saturday?

Overall Four Ate Five was fantastic and I would highly recommend people to check it out, if not for the baked eggs only! The place is quite small but cosy and warm nonetheless. Do expect to wait though - people who visit Surry Hills can smell a good brunch spot a mile away and I'm sure this place is no longer a well-kept local secret :)